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Does anyone know what these white dots are in my chameleon ZZ Plant?… | Pests, diseases and problems | Planta community

Snowstorm

Does anyone know what these white dots are in my chameleon ZZ Plant? They’re in the top 3” of soil but all around the pot. I see nothing on my stems or leaves, nothings crawling around in the top layer of soil either. They just appeared in the last 2-3 weeks and aren’t in any other plant of mine. No recent pest infestations except a few fungas gnats here and there. There is perlite in the soil but it was well mixed and I repotted months ago. Should I do a soil flush? Or would hydrogen peroxide be ok? I watered a few weeks ago and the plant isn’t needing water anytime soon.

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16 comments

  1. zollol

    Girl thats the most fungus fungus ive ever seen. Absolutely screaming “im fungus.”

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    • Snowstorm

      Thank you. Wasn’t sure if it was mould or larvae or what. I’m gonna repot today. Hopefully I’ve caught it quick enough! Do I need to do a hydrogen peroxide root treatment you think?

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    • zollol

      Yup yup. Clean the area around the plant to. Move it to a different room for a while too. And absolutely DO NOT repot it inside and spread the spores.

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    • Snowstorm

      Oh good tip to clean around it. I’ll def do that. My raven Zz is right next to it so I’d hate to have that get infected too, it just started putting up 3 new shoots!

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  2. Plants are the best

    We have the same problem with our pothos!

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    • Snowstorm

      Oh no!!! I hope your pothos is cured soon!!!

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  3. Sunny

    The clear pot exposes light to the soil helping the fungus grow. Put the clear pot in an opaque outer pot. Let the soil dry out more before watering again. They like continuously moist soil. A commercial fungicide can clear it. High heat and high humidity can promote growth, also low air circulation. 🪴🍀

    6 likes
    • Jneyman

      I never knew this!!

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    • Snowstorm

      Oh good to know thanks! Yes she’s in a cover pot as well but the top rim of the clear pot sits up a bit since it’s deeper, but only by 2-3cm and the soil wasn’t that high. Thankfully she’s right in front the half of the window that opens so she’s got good airflow too but she does get a bit of direct sun so maybe the high heat/humidity did her in. I’ll have to move her to the other side and see how she does once she’s outta quarantine. Did a full soil replacement and sprayed her roots/rhyzomes/lower stems with HP and the flushed the new soil with HP twice (1:4 HP to water) and did a preventative HP watering on my raven Zz which was next to this one. 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻 I caught it in time and things don’t grow again!

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    • Sunny

      Most of them won’t harm your plants. Some grow like foam and is unsightly. I just don’t like the spores. Also, old bags of potting soil can easily them especially if soil is stored outdoors for years like mine.

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    • Snowstorm

      Ahhhhhh ok. Yes I do keep my soil bags outside in the garage, it’s a new bag but you never know with be Ing outside. Thanks! Also good to know it won’t harm the plant! Maybe I’ll move the plant back outta quarantine sooner. She’s far from the window atm.

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    • Sunny

      I don’t quarantine mine since I keep a bottle of commercial fungicide on hand. It dies off quickly. My annual problem is fungal rust on my oxalis. It usually dies down in a few weeks with new healthy leaves replacing the ugly ones.

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  4. Tee Jay

    It’s called slime mold fungus and it’s perfectly fine for your plant. It’s actually kind of cool if you look it up. I would suggest some more air flow though

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    • Snowstorm

      Interesting! Thank you! I’ll have to look it up. I repotted with fresh soil et al, but if it’s harmless I guess that means I can take her outta quarantine now!

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  5. VitaPhyto

    Fungus is not fun

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